徐曦
時(shí)刻,即時(shí)間點(diǎn)。那么,在英語(yǔ)中如何準(zhǔn)確表達(dá)時(shí)刻呢?對(duì)此,筆者歸納了如下兩種表達(dá)法,以期對(duì)同學(xué)們有所幫助。
一、直接表達(dá)法
直接表達(dá)法,即直接按照時(shí)刻的先后順序進(jìn)行表達(dá)。一般而言,先是小時(shí),后是分鐘,均用基數(shù)詞。這種表達(dá)法中間不需要添加介詞。如:6:05,可以直接表達(dá)為:six five;7:58,可以直接表達(dá)為:seven fifty-eight;10:30可以直接表達(dá)成:ten thirty。倘若時(shí)刻在句子中用作時(shí)間狀語(yǔ),則需要在時(shí)刻前面使用介詞“at”。例如:
They arrived at two twenty-five.
他們2點(diǎn)25到達(dá)。
The meeting will be held at eight fifty.
會(huì)議將在8點(diǎn)50分鐘舉行。
When we got home, it was already ten thirty-five.
當(dāng)我們回到家時(shí),已經(jīng)是10點(diǎn)35分了。
We must leave now, for the film begins a eleven thirty.
我們得走了,因?yàn)檫@部電影是11點(diǎn)半開(kāi)始放映。
需要注意的是,(1)如果表示的是“幾點(diǎn)整”時(shí),可以在基數(shù)詞后面直接加上“oclock”oclock有時(shí)可以省略。比如:
He gets up at six every morning.
他每天早晨6點(diǎn)起床。
At eight oclock, we start the morning reading.
在8點(diǎn)鐘,我們開(kāi)始晨讀。
倘若表示的是上午或下午的“幾點(diǎn)整”,應(yīng)在數(shù)字或基數(shù)詞后面直接添加“a.m(上午)”或“p.m(下午)”,但不可以再加上“:00”,也不可以與“oclock”“in the morning/afternoon/ evening”連用。例如:
We work at 9:00 a.m. = We work at nine oclock in the morning.
我們?cè)缟?點(diǎn)上班。
Their school closes at five p. m. =Their school closes at five oclock in the afternoon.
他們下午5點(diǎn)放學(xué)。
二、間接表達(dá)法
間接表達(dá)法,即根據(jù)“先分鐘,后小時(shí),中間加介詞”的方法進(jìn)行表達(dá)。具體方法如下:
(1)若分鐘數(shù)等于或小于30分鐘,則中間需用使用介詞“past”進(jìn)行連接,即“分鐘+pass+小時(shí)”,意為“幾點(diǎn)過(guò)幾分”。例如:
The flight leaves at five past nine.
= The flight leaves at nine five.
航班9點(diǎn)過(guò)5分起飛。
We stop working to have lunch at twentyfive past twelve.
= We stop working to have lunch at twelve twenty-five.
我們?cè)?2點(diǎn)25分停止工作來(lái)吃午飯。
需要注意的是,當(dāng)分鐘數(shù)為15或30分鐘時(shí),除了使用基數(shù)詞“fifteen”“thirty”外,還可以借助“quarter”或“half”進(jìn)行表達(dá)。如:2:15可以表達(dá)為:fifteen past two=a quarter past two= two fifteen;6:30可以表達(dá)為:half past six=six thirty。例如:
下一班火車會(huì)在凌晨?jī)牲c(diǎn)過(guò)15分離開(kāi)。
The next train leaves at a quarter past two in the morning.
=The next train leaves at fifteen past two in the morning
=The next train leaves at two fifteen in the morning.
我3點(diǎn)半有一個(gè)重要的會(huì)議。
I have an important meeting at half past three.
=Ihaveanimportantmeetingatthreethirty.
(2)若分鐘數(shù)大于30分鐘,通常需要使用介詞“to”以連接,即“用60分鐘減去該分鐘數(shù)+ to+下一個(gè)時(shí)刻的小時(shí)”,可以意為“幾點(diǎn)差幾分”。如:9:55,即“10點(diǎn)差5分”,故可以表達(dá)為:five to ten= nine fifty-five。當(dāng)分鐘數(shù)為45分鐘時(shí),還可以用“quarter”替換“fifteen”。例如:
這名男子十一點(diǎn)差五分(10點(diǎn)55分)時(shí)離開(kāi)汽車進(jìn)入大樓。
The man left his car and entered the building at five to eleven.
= The man left his car and entered the building at ten fifty-five.
我們8點(diǎn)差10分(7點(diǎn)50)吃早飯。
We have breakfast at ten to eight.
= We have breakfast at seven fifty.
在12點(diǎn)差2分(11點(diǎn)58)時(shí),大鐘突然停止不動(dòng)。
At two to twelve, the clock suddenly stopped.
=At eleven fifty-eight, the clock suddenly stopped.
他們通常5點(diǎn)45分放學(xué)。
They usually finish school at quarter to six.
=Theyusuallyfinishschoolatfifteentosix.
= They usually finish school at five fortyfive.